Sculpting for victory: the Great Pottery Throw Down

Here are some of Ceramic Review‘s highlights from the Throw Downepisode that focused on garden sculptures, plate throwing and strawberry pot making;

BBC/Love Productions

The potters have been working hard so far,
but this week’s ‘main make’ took things to a new level…

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

BBC/Love Productions

The remaining six were tasked with producing 5 foot
garden sculptures in the space of a few days.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

BBC/Love Productions

We saw fine examples of outdoor sculpture…

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

BBC/Love Productions

While the judges explained that slab-building to this scale
is tough because the potters have to think about how
several pieces fit together.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Some contestants chose to create their slabs without the slab-roller…

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

BBC/Love Productions

Leading to just a little perspiration…

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

BBC/Love Productions

And lots of laughs.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

BBC/Love Productions

Others’ work almost fell apart altogether.
(Slab-building is a delicate process).

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

BBC/Love Productions

It’s always fascinating to see the contestants’ sketchbooks,
to find out where they draw inspiration from…

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

BBC/Love Productions

And to watch the main makes taking shape so swiftly.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Meanwhile, we shared some of our top ceramic art examples on Twitter,

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

BBC/Love Productions

As the potters made strawberry planters in the spot test…

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

BBC/Love Productions

And glazed their garden sculptures, ready to be fired.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

BBC/Love Productions

As if they didn’t have enough work to do, it was time for the throw down…

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Where the potters were given just ten minutes to create super wide plates.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

(It’s these time constraints that several viewers find frustrating).

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

BBC/Love Productions

But onwards, to the judging of the main make.

The part where the potters bring their finished pieces into
the studio is always one of our favourites.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

BBC/Love Productions

Some of the sculptures didn’t quite fit together…

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

BBC/Love Productions

While others hadn’t gone to plan – but were striking regardless.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

(Here’s Sally-Jo’s now, in her garden).

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

BBC/Love Productions

It was Matthew’s sculpture that made Keith cry this week…

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

BBC/Love Productions

Inspired by industrial forms with a contemporary twist,it was a powerful structure for sure.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

BBC/Love Productions

‘Can we speak to you over the sculpture, Sandra?’

In the end, it was Sandra who reached the end of the Throw Down road…

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

BBC/Love Productions

With an antenna that just didn’t cut it.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

BBC/Love Productions

Next week we look forward to watching the potters grapple with bone china…

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

BBC/Love Productions

As we discover which of them is to reach the grand final.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

The Great Pottery Throw Down airs this autumn on Tuesdays on BBC2 at 9pm.Ceramic Review can be found live tweeting each Tuesday evening @ceramicreview. Inside our two latest issues we’ve featured both the judges and the pottery technicians from behind-the-scenes. Discover more here: ceramicreview.com/magazine